IT Project Manager

IT Project Manager II Hatfield II 2 days 

About Us:

Ocado Technology is putting the world’s grocery retailers online using the cloud, robotics, AI, and IoT.  We provide services to partner clients globally via our innovative advanced robotics technology, known as the Ocado Smart Platform ("OSP"), this drives our highly automated, multi-million pound Customer Fulfilment Centres (CFCs). In our CFCs - together with the proprietary software applications - we operate a world-class online grocery business that automates the single pick of products, ready for your online delivery.

Of course, achieving this is no mean feat, and whilst we have ambitious strategies to grow our business, we need to match this in our capabilities to ensure the ongoing security of our sensitive data, our people, our customers, and our assets.  That’s where Ocado’s innovative Information Security team comes into play…

About the role:

The  IT mission is to provide the strategic direction, governance and delivery of the core IT services which enable Ocado group as a whole to deliver on its missions.

The IT Project Manager has responsibility for the delivery of technical projects which may include infrastructure and application delivery across Ocado Groups global IT service portfolio. 

• The initial project the PM will be working on is a People costs programme which is awaiting commencement.
• It is essential that the PM selected have proven experience running large scale projects with Workday (or equivalent HCM systems) and financial software projects.
• Hands-on experience of projects configuring and optimizing compensation elements, absence policies, and one-time payments in Workday (or other enterprise HCM system) or similar will be essential.
• A strong understanding of global payroll processes, compensation structures, and localized pay elements (e.g., 14-month salary plans) will enable the PM to hit the ground running.
• The PM will need demonstrable prior experience working with HR, Payroll, Finance, and IT teams to drive cross-functional alignment.
• The PM will need to demonstrate previous experience of engaging and manage stakeholders at a global level

Day-to-day, you’ll need to:

• Manage multiple IT projects concurrently through the full project lifecycle.
• Create and maintain a complete set of project documents from initiation to closure, including project scope, business case, and deliverables 
• Coordinate all resources required to deliver projects (including 3rd parties) and act in a matrix management capacity.
• Manage and build key stakeholder relationships, both internal and external.
• Coordinate project inception - gather and analyse requirements, define and control scope, develop project plans.
• Identify and manage project risks, issues, and dependencies, and implement effective solutions to meet project deadlines, objectives, and outcomes.
• Track progress of delivery against agreed targets. 
• Own associated project budgets. 
• Identify and recommend opportunities for process improvements within each workstream.
• Construction of project budget requests and project change related to cost, timeline and deliverable quality.
• Oversight of required project change management activity.
• Definition of the project acceptance criteria and oversight of any required testing needed to demonstrate this has been met.
• Work closely with IT teams to ensure change is managed into ‘business as usual’ correctly and is set up for success.
• Regular reporting as required covering key project KPI’s.
• Seek and implement opportunities for process improvement and lessons learned to improve future project delivery performance and effectiveness.
• Initially running a year long people cost project across IT and finance departments working with global and local stakeholders

Experience:

• At least 7 years experience in an IT project management role.
• Workday Implementation or Optimization Experience: Prior involvement in Workday implementations, migrations, or enhancements related to compensation and absence.
• Multi-Country HR/Payroll Project Management: Experience leading HRIS/payroll projects across multiple geographies with complex payroll structures.
• Automation & Self-Service Adoption: Knowledge of self-service HR tools and change management strategies to encourage adoption.
• Regulatory Compliance Knowledge: Understanding of global HR/payroll regulations and ensuring Workday configurations meet compliance standards.
• Project Managing at least one large scale enterprise HR or Finance initiative.
• Managing stakeholders and teams across multiple geographical regions.
• Experience presenting to Executive level steering committees as a PM.
• Demonstrable experience of handling cross project interdependencies 
• Able to demonstrate that they have worked on and managed projects through the full development lifecycle.
• Experience of project reporting across roles, regions, stakeholders and workstreams
• Experience with workstream process improvements.

Skills:

• Ability to work across technical and non technical stakeholders.
• Project planning and management/delivery of complex projects to timescales, including experience of Waterfall and Agile methodologies.
• Excellent presentation, written and verbal interpersonal skills and the ability to work well with a variety of personalities and styles, at all levels in the organisation. 
• Able to facilitate workshops with a range of stakeholders, suppliers & business users.
• Excellent critical reasoning, decision-making, and problem solving skills to analyse situations, determine risks, and find solutions to prevent future issues and resolve recurring defects.
• Formal Project Management qualification - Prince2 / PMP /APMP or similar.
•  Workday Proficiency – Hands-on experience managing Workday or equivalent HCM.
•  Global HR/Payroll Knowledge – Understanding of international payroll structures, compliance, and best practices.
•  Project Management Skills – Ability to plan, execute, and manage complex HRIS/payroll transformation projects.

This would make you stand out from the crowd:

• Experience of Workday implementation projects or programmes.
• Experience managing a payroll modification programme.
• Extensive experience with payroll inputs, payroll vendors and outputs to finance systems along with the surrounding business processes.

What we offer you:

Our employee benefits are designed for you, we care about people and we’ve ensured we have a wealth of benefits that focus on your well-being. We regularly review our benefits to ensure we are supporting our employees appropriately. Currently, we offer technically stretching work, a competitive salary and;

• Hybrid working patterns meaning part of the working week can be spent working remotely (typically 3 days per week). However, your working pattern will depend upon your role/team).
• Wellbeing support through Apps such as Unmind and an Employee Assistance Programme.
• 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after 5 years service (plus optional holiday purchase).
• Pension scheme (various options available including employer contribution matching up to 7%).
• Private Medical Insurance.
• 22 weeks paid maternity leave and 6 weeks paid paternity leave (once relevant service requirements complete) .
• Train Ticket loan (interest-free).
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Free shuttle bus to and from Hatfield Train Station to the Hatfield offices.
• Free shuttle bus to and from Welwyn Garden City Train Station to the Welwyn Garden City offices.
• Opportunity to participate in Sharesave and Buy as You Earn share schemes.
• 15% discount on Ocado.com and free delivery for all employees.
• Income Protection (can be up to 50% of salary for 3 years) and Life Assurance (3 x annual salary).

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